Young Cod Army side fall to narrow defeat
A young Fleetwood Town XI succumbed to a narrow 2-1 defeat in a friendly fixture away at Chorley on Tuesday evening.Barry Nicholson's side took a very early lead with Keano Deacon tapping home from close range, however goals from Jack Dorney and Jack Cottrell gave the hosts the victory.
With less than two minutes of the game played, Chorley could and probably should have had an opening goal, as Jack Dorney flashed a free header over the bar after creeping away from his marker.
Despite a strong start from the hosts, it was Nicholson’s side that took the after just three minutes though through Deacon. One of the five Fleetwood trialists saw his improvised effort from close range superbly saved by home keeper Aaron Grundy, but Deacon was on hand tap home and apply the finish.
Chorley then pressed up the field, roared on by their home support, and had another chance when Dale Whittam saw his tame free kick trickle past the post.
Darren Stephenson then saw his cheeky chipped effort from a tight angle sail just over the bar.
Up at the other end, Fleetwood's trialists were certainly impressing, with goalkeeper Grundy forced in to a decent save, with the Cod Army searching for their second.
However, Chorley found their equaliser after 13 minutes. Grundy's long punt from his goal kick found Cottrell, who skipped his man and saw his shot well saved by Taylor, however the rebound fell to Jack Dorney who made no mistake and tapped home into an empty net.
Chorley doubled their advantage in the 21st minute, with Cottrell netting what was to be the winner. A flick on from a Paul Jarvis long throw fell to the impressive Cottrell, who kept his composure and calmly smashed home on the volley past the dive of Taylor.
The goal didn't seem to put Fleetwood off however, with Deacon seeing his acrobatic effort go just past the post on the half hour mark.
With five minutes to go until the break, Town were having to stand firm against their non-league opponents, with Tom Smyth heading just over the bar.
Max Cartwright very nearly evened things up on the stroke of half time though, stabbing an effort with the outside of his foot which crashed off the post and headed off the line.
With the trialists all looking to impress, the Cod Army came out for the second half searching for the equaliser they so craved.
And it was one of those trialists who had the first chance of the half on 47 minutes, however his tame effort was easily saved by Grundy.
Town continued to put pressure on the Magpies, with Matty Hughes dragging a free kick wide of the far post.
Chorley's winger, Josh Hine, was proving to be a tricky customer for the visiting rearguard, and whipped in a teasing ball which was met by Whittam on the half volley, but the midfielder blazed over the bar on the hour mark.
The Victory Park outfit almost found a third on 81 minutes, with Stephenson seeing his rasping drive beaten away by Taylor.
Nicholson's young squad huffed and puffed in the final few minutes, but were unable to find a second.
Despite a narrow defeat, a young Cod Army side can take heart from the manner in which they played.